1877-1952
Minister

Flamboyant Fundamentalist.

Early Life and Career.

Provocative Preacher.

Controversy in the Convention.

Efforts at Organization.

Scandal.

Fiery Personality.

By the end of the 1920s Norris was one of the best known and most outspoken of the nation's Fundamentalists. He believed the mission of the church was simple and clearly defined: to preach Christ and Him crucified. The social issues that preoccupied others were irrelevant to Norris, whose goal was to save as many souls as possible. While his commitment was clear, his personality was fiery. It seemed that when no enemies were available Norris would make some. For his followers he represented the old-time religion; for his many enemies he besmirched his church, religion, and region.

Sources:

Norman Anderson, "The Shooting Parson of Texas," New Republic, 48 (1 September 1926): 35-37;

George W. Dollar, A History of Fundamentalism in America (Greenville, S C Bob Jones University...